Marco Gonzales struggles in second MLB start

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Marco Gonzales (56) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park. The former Rocky Mountain pitcher was making his second MLB start.
(Photo:
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
)

For the second-straight start, Marco Gonzales was strong early but struggled the second time through the opponents batting order.

The former Rocky Mountain High School star cruised through the first three innings for the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night in San Francisco, but was undone in the fourth inning.

In the fourth, Gonzales allowed three runs, including a two-run home run to Pablo Sandoval. In his first MLB start last week, Gonzales went through three innings without allowing a hit, before giving up four runs in the fourth inning.

Against the Giants on Tuesday Gonzales allowed two more runs in the fifth before being pulled in the middle of the inning. He ended with a line of 4.1 innings pitched, five earned runs, seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts.

The Giants won the game 5-0, handing Gonzales his first MLB loss. His ERA is 9.64.

It was the second start for Gonzales after being called up from Double-A last week. In his MLB debut he threw five innings and allowed five earned runs in a no-decision at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies in front of hundreds of family and friends.